Restraining system for handheld electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A restraining system for hand held electronic devices with a case for the specified device, and attachment in the back of the case; a strap being mounted in the back of the case by mean of attachments to receive a user&#39;s hand or finger. A preferred embodiment includes the case assembled with the device to form a single unit, and the strap mounted in the back of the case or unit by mean of attachments, stretched to receive and trap the user&#39;s hand or finger between the unit, as to keep the cased device from moving freely from the palm of the user, and to prevent the cased device or unit from falling while in user&#39;s hand. A preferred embodiment includes the unit flipped over to rest on top of the user&#39;s hand as to carry or use the cased device, and to allow the user to perform other activities.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a response to pre-exam formalities notice Ser. No. 13/586,818, filed on Aug. 15, 2012, and is also based on provisional application Ser. No. 61/575,332, filed on Aug. 20, 2011.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of protective cases or covers for handheld electronic devices, and more specifically to a restraining system for hand held electronic devices.

The present invention relates to protective cases or covers for handheld electronic devices, and more particularly to a strap system, when used with such protective cases covers, secures phones and handheld computer tablets to users' hand, ensuring their technology stays tethered, not splayed on the floor and left behind; all are in addition of protecting devices from scratches and dents.

The closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,056 issued to Kuo-Chen Tzeng on Oct. 29, 2002.

Other inventions include: U.S. Pat. No. 7,529, 364 B2; U.S. Pat. No. 2007/0184781 A1. These inventions differ from the present invention because they don't prevent the protected device from falling off the user's hand or from leaving the device behind. Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a protective cover for cell phones and other handheld electronic devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective cover that secures a cell phone and other handheld electronic devices to a user's hand while in use, without the need for the user to hold on such a device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective cover for a cell phone and other handheld devices with means that prevents such devices from accidental fall, with no need to have a hand on the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protective cover for cell phones and the like that allows users to keep their devices around them and out of their hands while not in use, so they can perform other tasks and activities such as typing, surfing by using another computer tablet, driving, eating, drinking, jogging, pushing, clapping.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a solution for such an important problem that is less expensive to manufacture and yet delivers a better result than similar.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a protective cover for cell phones and handheld computer tablets that allows users to hang their devices around their neck by means of hooks, rings, and strap, adding convenience, control, and portability when handling more than one device at the same time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective cover for cell phones and other handheld electronic devices that is user friendly to people who suffers from hand related illness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a restraining system for hand held electronic devices comprising: a case for the specified device, and attachment means in the back of said case; a strap being mounted in the back of said case by mean of said attachments to receive a user's hand or finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a back view of a pre-existing protective cover being modified with three holes for the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 represents a back view of a new protective cover with pre molded hooks.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is the assembly of the elastic strap (un-stretched and unfolded) with the rings.

FIG. 6 represents the front and side view of a hook.

FIG. 7 is the assembly of a stretched and folded elastic strap with a pre-existing protective case.

FIG. 7A represents different strap locations where a case is designed to fit a device with a camera located in the center top of the device.

FIG. 7B represents different locations of the strap where a case is designed to fit a device that has a camera located in the upper left corner of the device.

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7 showing the elastic strap and the hooks.

FIG. 9 depicts a case with a neck strap hooked at the bottom of the case.

FIG. 9A is a side view of FIG. 9

FIG. 10 shows a case with a hand strap and a neck strap.

FIG. 11 shows a neck-strapped phone in use

FIG. 12 shows a hand trapped between the back of a case and an elastic strap.

FIG. 13 shows a hand-strapped device in use.

FIG. 14 shows a hand-strapped device being flipped behind a user's hand.

FIG. 15 shows the contrast between conventional cell phone holding and back flipped cell phone holding.

FIG. 16 pictured a driver with a cell phone flipped behind his hand, and still has both hands on the wheel.

FIG. 17 shows a hand holding a remote with the cell phone rested behind the hand.

FIG. 18 shows a hand holding a canned drink while the cell phone is comfortably rested behind the hand.

FIG. 19 illustrates a back case of a larger device with two sets of elastic straps and a neck strap.

FIG. 20 shows a larger device being neck-strapped.

FIG. 21 represents a larger device hand-strapped with a right hand.

FIG. 22 depicts a larger device with a neck strap being hooked in the lower right hand corner.

FIG. 23 shows a tilted larger device being held with a neck strap from the lower right hand corner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred with numeral 10 and 10A, it can be observed that it basically includes cases 20 or 20A, elastic strap 30, rings 40, and hooks 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, it can be seen that device 10 may be made out of an existing case 20 as well as a custom made case 20A. In the event of an existing case 20, clearance holes 12 are being located in the case 20 as attachment means, but for a custom made case 20A, attachment means are the pre-molded edges 14. Referring now to FIG. 5, elastic strap 30 comprises 2 end rings and one middle ring 40.

Referring now to FIG. 7, device 10 includes an elastic strap 30, attached to case 20 through hooks or attachments 50, by means of rings 40. Such elastic strap 30, after being connected to hooks 50, can be stretched out to strap a hand between the back of the case 20, as pictured in FIG. 12. The location of strap 30 on the case 20 depends on the location of the clearance opening 16 in case 20 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, device 10 may also include only case 20 with hook 50 and ring 40 to simply provide an attachment means for a neck strap 11. Also a neck strap 11 may also attach to device 10 through end rings 40. The neck strap 11 is being hooked to the bottom of the case 20 as to allow usage of the cell phone while still being strapped around the neck, as shown in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 15, once a hand is being strapped between the elastic strap 30 and the case 20, the cell phone or computer tablet located in device 10 can be used un-gripped (hold free) and becomes drop free. Therefore, a cell phone can be conveniently used through ear or mouth as shown in FIG. 13. Also, a cell phone that is inserted in device 10 may be flipped behind the hand when such a cell phone is not in use as shown in FIG. 14. This allows the cell phone user to use his or her hand for other things, as shown in FIG. 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 19, 20, 21, duo elastic strap 30 is used when case 20 is designed to fit a larger device 10A. The left and right strap 30 is to accommodate users whether they are left handed or right handed, as shown in FIG. 21. Large device 10A is also capable of receiving neck strap 11 (shown is FIGS. 19 and 20) which is being connected to case 20 by mean of hook 50 and ring 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 22 and 23, device 10A includes an additional hook 50 and ring 30 located at the bottom right corner of case 20, designed to receive neck strap 11, as shown in FIG. 22. Device 10A will then be tilted when neck-strapped. Tilting device 10A, as shown in FIG. 23, will make it easier to use tablet computers whether vertical or horizontal while still being strapped around the neck.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A restraining system for hand held electronic devices comprising: A case for the specified device with attachment means on said case; Said case having a front and a back; Said attachment means located on the back of said case; A strap being mounted in the back of said case by said attachment means to receive a user's hand or finger.
 2. A restraining system for hand held electronic devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein said case assembled with said device to form a single unit; and Said strap mounted in the back of said case or unit by said attachment means, forming a cased device, stretched to receive and trap said user's hand or finger between the unit and the strap, as to keep the cased device from moving freely from the palm of the user; And to prevent said cased device or unit from falling while in said user's hand.
 3. A restraining system for hand held electronic devices as claimed in claim 2 including a single unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said unit is flipped to rest on top of the user's hand as to carry or use said cased device with ease; And to free the user's so he or she can perform other hand activities while the unit is still resting on top of his or her hand.
 4. A restraining system for hand held electronic devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means in the back of the case are in the form of hooks used to join the strap with said case. 